Desk



Nov. 21, 1961 J. M. MARGULIS DESK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 18, 1959 b KL V A mm. H M m H v P E w o 5 4 Y 5 o B 4 2 8 5 4 B o 2 3 \l 2 2 26 8 6 5 d 0 B o a 4 4 2 m w O 4 4 as 4 4 v .l n m 0 3 ATTORNEY Nov. 21, 1961 J. M. MARGULIS DESK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 18, 1959 VIII/III/IlV'I'i INVENTOR. JOSEPH M. MARGULIS M H. W

ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,099,752 Patented Nov. 2l, 1961 3,069,752 DESK Joseph M. Margulis, 150 N. 13th St, Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Dec. 18, 1959, Ser. No. 860,448 3 Claims. (Cl. 312-255) The present invention relates to a desk, and more particularly to a foldable desk for use by salesmen to display merchandise and sales literature.

Many salesmen travel from place to place, and must set up a sales display at each place. For such purpose it would be desirable to have a desk upon wh ch the merchandise display could be set up, and which would hold sales literature in a manner to permit the perspective customers to help themselves to the literature. Such a desk should also be foldable so that it can be easily carried about, and can be stored in a small space when not in use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel desk.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel desk for the display of merchandise and sales literature.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a foldable desk for use in displaying merchandise and sales literature.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of the desk of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a back perspective view of the desk of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a front perspective view of the desk of the present invention in its folded disposition.

FIGURE 5 is a back perspective view of the desk of the present invention in its folded disposition.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the desk showing the pin lock between the top and one side of the desk.

Referring to the drawings, the foldable display desk of the present invention is generally designated as 10. Desk 10 comprises a front 12, a pair of sides 14, and a top 16.

The front 12 of the desk 10 comprises a pair of upright side supporting posts 18 connected together in spaced, parallel relation by a top rail 20 and a bottom rail 22;. A front panel 24 extends between and is secured to the front edges of the side supporting posts 18. The front panel 24 extends from the bottom rail 22 to a point below the top rail 21). A separate reinforcing post 26 is secured in an upright position between the bottom rail 22 and the top rail 20 along the inner surface of each of the side supporting posts 18. The reinforcing posts 26 are positioned in the corners of the junctions of the front panel 24 with the side supporting posts 18. A separate cylindrical leg 28 is secured to the inner surface of each of the side supporting posts 18 at the bottom end of the side supporting posts 18. The legs 28 extend downwardly through holes in the bottom rail 22, and project below the bottom rail 22. A rubber or plastic cup 30 is provided on the bottom end of each of the legs 28.

As shown in FIGURE 3, three compartment panels 32, 34, and 36 are secured in parallel, spaced relation between the reinforcing posts 26. The top edge of the top compartment panel 32 extends along and is secured to the front edge of the top rail 20. The top edge of the bottom compartment panel 36 extends along the top edge of the front panel 24. The top edge of the intermediate compartment panel 34 is intermediate the top edges of the top compartment panel 32 and the bottom compartment panel 36. The compartment panels 32, 34, and 36 extend downwardly, and rearwardly at a small angle away from the plane of the front panel 24. A bottom 38 is secured between the bottom end of the intermediate compartment panel 34 and the bottom compartment panel 36. A bottom 40 is secured between the bottom end of the top compartment 32 and the intermediate compartment 34. A plurality of substantially upright dividers 42 are secured at spaced intervals between the top compartment panel 32 and the intermediate compartment panel 34. A plurality of substantially upright dividers 44 are secured at spaced intervals between the intermediate compartment panel 34 and the bottom.compartment panel 36. The dividers 42 and 44 form pockets therebetween for the reception of sales literature. Front panel extensions 46 are secured to the front side of the reinforcing posts 26 and extend from the top edge of the front panel 24 to the top rail 20 along the sides of the compartment panels 32 and 34.

Each of the sides 14 of the desk 10 comprises a fee-- tangular frame 48, and a side panel 50 secured to the outer surface of the frame 48 (see FIGURE 2). Each of the sides 14 is of a height equal to the height of the side supporting posts 18 of the front 12, and of a length less than one-half of the length of the rails 20 and 22 of the front 12'. Each of the sides 14 is hingedly secured to a separate one of the side supporting posts 18 of the front 12 by a pair of hinges 52. The hinges 52 are secured to the inner surfaces of the side supporting posts 18 of the front 12 and the frame 48 of the sides 14. Thus, each of the sides 14 is pivotable between a folded position in which the sides 14 are substantially parallel to the front panel 24 of the front 12, and an open position in which the sides 14 are in alignment with the side supporting post 18 of the front 12.

A separate cylindrical leg 54 is secured to the inner surface of the frame 48 of each of the sides 14 at the lower rear corner of the sides 14. The legs 54 extend downwardly below the bottom edge of the sides 14. The legs 54 project below the sides 14 a distance equal to the projection of the legs .28 below the front 12. Thus, the legs 28 and 54 evenly support the desk 10 in both its open and folded dispositions. Rubber or plastic cups 30 are provided on the bottom ends of the legs 54. The bottom rail 22 of the front 12 has a pair of spaced notches 56 in its back edge. The notches 56 are arranged to receive the legs 54 when the sides 14 are in their folded disposition so that the sides 14 will abut against the back edges of the top rail 20 and the bottom rail 22.

The top 16 comprises a fiat, rectangular panel which extends across the top rail 20 of the front 12 and across the top edges of the sides 14. Three angle brackets 58 are secured at spaced intervals to the back edge of the top rail 20 of the front 12. Each of the angle brackets 53 has a leg 60 which projects rearwardly from the top rail 20 a distance equal to the thickness of the sides 14. A separate hinge plate 62 is hingedly secured to the end of each of the legs 60 of the angle brackets 58. The hinge plates 62 are secured to the bottom surface of the top 16 as shown in FIGURE 3. Thus, the top 16 is pivotable between its folded position in which the top 16 is substantially parallel to the front panel 24 of the front 12, and an open position in which the top 16 extends across the top rail 20 substantially perpendicular to the front panel 24.

The top 16 has a pair of recesses 64 in its bottom surface adjacent the rear corners thereof. Each of the sides 14 has a pin 66 projecting upwardly from the rear end of the top edge thereof. When the top 16 and sides 14 are in their open positions, the pins 66 fit into the recesses 64 to lock the sides 14 in their open position, and prevent accidental pivotation of the sides 14.

As shown in FIGURE 2, a supporting plate 68 is secured in an upright position between the back edge of the bottom rail 22 and the intermediate compartment panel 34 between the side supporting posts 18 of the front 12. A bolt latch 70 is mounted on the supporting plate 68 with the bolt being slidable vertically. As shown in FIGURE 5, the bolt latch 70 is positioned so that it is directly beneath the back edge of the top 16 when the top 16 is in its folded position. As shown in FIGURE 2, a bolt hook 72 is secured to the bottom of the top 16 at the back edge of the top 16. The bolt hook 72 is positioned to receive the bolt of the bolt latch 70 when the top 16 is in its folded position.

In the use of the desk of the present invention, the sides 14 and the top 16 are pivoted to their open position, and locked in place by inserting the pins 66 in the recesses 64. The desk 10 can then be used for displaying merchandise on the top 16 of the desk. Sales literature can be placed in the pockets in the front 12 of the desk 10 where the sales literature is in view of and easy reach of any prospective customers. When the showing of the merchandise is completed, the desk 10 can be easily folded by lifting the back end of the top 16 up slightly to release the pins 66 from the recesses 64. The sides 14 are then pivoted to their folded position against the top rail 20 and bottom rail 22 of the front 12. The top 16 is then pivoted to its folded position along the outer surfaces of the sides 14. The top 16 is locked in its folded position by sliding the bolt of the bolt latch 70 into the bolt book 72, and locking the bolt in position. The locking of the top 16 in its folded position also locks the sides 14 in their folded position. The desk 10 of the present invention is then in a compact condition for ease of carrying or shipping to the next show place or for ease of storing.

The present invention may be emboded in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A desk comprising an upright front, a separate side hingedly secured to each side of said front, and a top extending across and hingedly secured to the top edge of said front, said sides and top being pivotable between a closed position in which said sides and top are substantially parallel to said front with the sides being between said top and front and an open position in which the sides are substantially papallel to each other and perpendicular to said front and the top extends across the top edges of said front and sides and rests on the top edges of said sides, said sides having a length less than one-half the length of said front, said top having a width less than the height of said front, a latch means on the rear surface of said front substantially equidistant from the ends of said front, a latch element on said top, whereby said latch means is between the ends of said sides in their closed position so that said latch means may selectively cooperate with said latch element to secure said top in its closed position.

2. A desk in accordance with claim 1 in which the front has a plurality of pockets in its front surface for the reception of literature and phamphlets, said pockets being formed by at least two parallel panels extending from the plane of said front at an angle with relation to the plane of said front, a bottom extending between said panels, and at least one divider extending between said panels, said divider being substantially perpendicular to each of said panels.

3. A desk in accordance with claim 1 including a pair of legs secured to and projecting downwardly from said front at the sides of the front, a separate leg secured to and projecting downwardly from each of said sides at the back end of the sides, and a notch in a rear portion of said front for receiving the legs of said sides in the closed position of said sides.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 943,236 Campbell Dec. 14, 1909 1,650,663 Swoboda Nov. 29, 1927 1,898,998 Glandt Feb. 28, 1933 2,808,305 Jackson Oct. 1, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,550 Switzerland Jan. 14, 1895 881,102 Germany May 13, 1953 

